Hua Huiqi, a Christian considered a “religious dissident” was arrested on Sunday on his way to a church service at Kuanjie Protestant Church, an officially sanctioned church, where President Bush and his family felt perfectly safe to worship.

Mr.Hua Huiqi escaped from police custody. He now fears for his safety. His mother has been imprisoned, his land seized, his brother also arrested but released.

Meanwhile President Bush and his family enjoyed the service where a children’s choir sang “Amazing Grace” in English and Chinese.
I couldn’t help but wonder if President Bush was as saddened by this as I was, or if he even knows the history of this heart wrenching song.

For those of you who don’t know, the song amazing grace was written by John Newton a British slaver who had come to accept Jesus Christ as his personal savior. He left the sea and became a teacher of The Word Of God.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

A tad bit more than a small contradiction between China’s claims of religious freedom and the reality lived by Chinese citizens.

Qin Gang, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, continues to insist Chinese citizens have complete religious freedom.
Slavery comes in many forms.

Yes China, you can be proud of the religious freedom you offer to your citizens.

Spc. Matthew A. Koch
23 years old from West Henrietta, New York
Company C, 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division
March 9, 2005

Spc. Matthew A. Koch was on his second tour of duty when he was killed by an IED that was detonated near his vehicle in Taji. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He previously was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon and medals for service in the fight against terrorism.

Koch enlisted in the Army in January 2002 after the attacks on September 11, 2001 and re-enlisted because he wanted to help the Iraqi people. “He was a brave soldier who made the greatest sacrifice anyone could make for everyone else’s freedom,” Diane Worman, Koch’s mother, said through tears. “He realized that by being over there, he was going to make a difference in the lives of those people.” She said her son once unsuccessfully sought green cards for an Iraqi family that had been threatened for helping Americans.

“He always looked out for the other guy, never thought of himself. He volunteered to go to C Co before our first deployment so that one of the guys from our Platoon didn’t have to deploy early and would have a chance to marry his fiance. That’s Koch for you, always looking out for his buddies.” - David A. “Buch” Buchanan.

“He really loved the service and went back,” said James Worman, Koch’s stepfather. “He had no problem. He was dedicated to the fact that people over there needed help. He was always concerned about other people. He loved children. He was a nice, soft-hearted kid.”

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

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